Bourne Free 2026 is set to be a three-day celebration of love, diversity, and community in Bournemouth. Taking place from Friday, July 10th, to Sunday, July 12th 2026, the festival will be held at Meyrick Park (BH2 6LJ) under the theme "Iconic" .
The weekend is structured to offer a distinct experience each day :
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Friday, July 10th (5:00 PM – 10:00 PM): Over 18s Evening
The festival kicks off with a night exclusively for adults. Expect a high-energy atmosphere featuring DJ sets, cabaret performances, and a chance to enjoy the three on-site bars before the main weekend crowds arrive. -
Saturday, July 11th (11:00 AM – 10:30 PM): The Parade & Main Festival
The day begins with Dorset's longest Pride Parade, which starts at East Overcliff Drive and winds through the town centre to Meyrick Park. Following the parade, the main festival offers 10 hours of non-stop entertainment on the main stage, including celebrity acts, drag superstars, and local performers. -
Sunday, July 12th (11:00 AM – 4:00 PM): Family Day
The weekend concludes with a relaxed, inclusive day for all ages. The focus is on family-friendly performances, educational tents, and activities for children. While often free, you usually need to book a ticket in advance to help manage capacity.
Across all three days, attendees can explore a variety of stalls, caterers, and information tents. Three bars will be available on-site to keep everyone refreshed . For any further details, you may want to keep an eye on official tourism channels like Visit Bournemouth .
Find out more: www.bournefree.co.uk
Why did Bourne Free start?
Bourne Free was originally set up in 2004 when a far right organisation was due to come to Bournemouth and preach that homosexuality was wrong. Many prominent figures and active members of the gay communities in the area came together to organise an event in the Lower Gardens to protect the gay communities from the bigots and keep them together for a day of celebration, rather than of hostility.
The event included entertainers performing at The Bandstand to support diversity, a balloon release with a 2 minute silence for victims of hate crime and Bournemouth’s first Gay Pride march. By the end of the day those that had come together just a few weeks before the preachers came to Bournemouth, the Bourne Free Committee, felt that they could have done even more if they had more time.
It was decided that the committee would get back together and repeat the event every year, but as an official charity with designated roles. Bourne Free would become an annual celebration in the heart of Bournemouth for everyone to see the diversities in the community and to enjoy a variety of entertainment. In 2006, the title of the event was changed to the Bourne Free Pride Festival.
Who is Bourne Free?
The Bourne Free committee consists trustees and volunteers plus a large number of contributors from the LGBT community across Bournemouth and Dorset. Bourne Free is a registered charity and has no paid staff.
News
For the latest Bourne Free information see the news section here.
